Cessna 180 N4796B

Summary

On 20 August 1999 at about 19:40 local time, a Cessna 180 registered N4796B was involved in an accident near Columbus, New Mexico, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 August 1999 at 19:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Columbus, New Mexico, United States

Nearest airport

Hacienda Sur Luna Airpark (60E)

Coordinates

31.8205, -107.6404

Aircraft

Cessna 180

Registration

N4796B

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bullhead City → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN99LA164

Nobody was injured.

Fuel exhaustion because the pilot issued instructions that the fuel tanks not be filled to capacity. A factor was the unsuitable terrain on which to make a forced landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot departed Bullhead City, Arizona, en route to Columbus, New Mexico, a distance of 461 nautical miles. He planned on an average ground speed of 120 knots, with an estimated 3 hours, 45 minutes time en route. The pilot calculated the fuel burn to be between 10.5 and 11.0 gallons per hour. With 55 gallons of usable fuel, this would equate to an endurance of 4.5 to 5.0 hours. When the airplane was 3 miles from the airport, the engine lost power. The pilot made a forced landing on an unprepared surface and collided with a ditch. The pilot said he had instructed airport personnel at Bullhead City to refuel the airplane, but to 'leave it down two inches.' He admitted the engine probably lost power due to 'fuel starvation.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.